Finishing device



June 12, 1956 M. B. SLEEPER FINISHING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12, 1953 M02254 & 5Zifi INVENTOR.

United States Patent FINISHING DEVICE Murrel B. Sleeper, Sturgis, Mich, assignor to Mecha- Finish Corporation, Sturgis, Micln, a corporation of Michigan Application March 12, 1953, Serial No. 341,862

13 Claims. (Cl. 51-7) This invention relates to improvements in finishing devices, and more particularly to a device or machine for finishing the surfaces of work pieces formed of metal and other material, by smoothing the same and removing burrs therefrom.

The primary object of the device is to elfect movement and rotation of a work piece in an abrasive material of fluid consistency in a manner to present each of the surfaces of the work piece to the abrasive for effective surface finishing thereof.

A further object is to provide a device of this character in which work pieces are progressively installed, moved through a predetermined path in the machine, and then unloaded or removed so that work progressed regularly and continuously and a single attendant can load and unload the machine with assurance that each work piece approaching the loading station will have passed through a predetermined cycle of operation and will have been finished to predetermined standards.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having an annular container of fluid abrasive material,

and work-holding means traversing that container in a path eccentric of the container and of varying depth and of such a nature as to present the Work progressively at different positions relative to the vertical and in constantly turning movement as the work is carried through the container from and back to a loading station.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary top plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view of the apertured annular chamber wall.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral designates a base of any suitable construction mounting a base plate 11. The base plate mounts spaced socket portions 12 which mount a plurality of upright supports 13, such as tubes or columns. Columns 13 mount an enclosure member 14 intermediate their height, and at their upper ends are received in cap members 15' which are carried by a top plate 16 of a housing member having side walls 17 and being open at its bottom.

A motor 20 is mounted upon the base and a speed reducer 21 is likewise mounted on the base. The motor drives a pulley 22 around which is trained a belt 23 in turn trained around a pulley 24 carried by the speed reducer 21. The output shaft 25 of the speed reducer extends vertically substantially centrally of the base 10 and of the housing 14 and is encircled by a hub 26 which is keyed thereto at 27. The hub 26 is flanged at 28 and ice supports and has fixed thereto at said flange a bottom member 29 of a liquid container having a substantially cylindrical wall portion 30. The wall 30 mounts a substantially horizontal annular plate 31 mid-height thereof, and at its upper end mounts a substantially horizontal annular disk or plate 32 from whose inner end projects a cylindrical neck portion 33 of reduced diameter compared to the Wall 30.

The cylindrical wall 30 defines the inner wall of an annular chamber having an annular bottom portion 34 and a cylindrical outer wall 35. The upper portion or margin of the outer wall 35 has an inturned flange portion 36. A plurality of substantially equispaced vanes 37 are fixed to and project inwardly from the cylindrical wall 35, the same extending for a part only of the height of the wall 35. A plurality of tapered vanes 38 are secured to and project outwardly from the cylindrical wall 30. The top margin of the neck 33 terminates in substantially the same plane as the plane of the marginal upper flange 36 The outer wall 35 of the annular chamber has clearance with the housing wall 14, and the housing wall 14 in turn mounts at its lower end a channel 39 whose innermargin projects slightly inwardly from and is spaced below the annular chamber. This channel 39 is inclined, as best seen in Fig. 2, and at its lower point is provided with an outlet or conduit 3%.

An outlet for the annular chamber is provided at 4%, the same preferably being normally sealed by a screwthreaded sealing plug 41. The upper end of the housing wall 14 preferably projects above the level of the parts 33 and 36 and is outlined by a marginal reinforcing angle iron flange 42. Brackets 43 project outwardly from the housing 14 and are fixedly secured to the columns 13 to support the housing 14 in proper position.

A thrust bearing 45 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 25 and has'a flange 46 at its upper end which mounts a bearing plate 47. The bearing plate in turn mounts a socket 48 in which is splined the lower end of an inclined shaft 49. It will be observed in Pig. 2 that the parts 48 and 49 are oflset from or arranged eccentrically with respect to the shaft 25. The shaft 49 carries a thrust bearing 50 which is rotatable upon the shaft and which supports a plate or centrally apertured disk 51. The disk 51 is secured within a cylindrical member 52 concentric with the shaft 49. A second centrally apertured disk 53 is secured within the cylinder 52 spaced from the disk 51 and mounts a bearing member 54-, thereby providing two longitudinally spaced points of support for the cylinder 52.

The cylinder 52 has an annular plate 55 projecting outwardly therefrom at its lower end and a second and smaller annular disk or plate 56 projecting outwardly therefrom spaced below its upper end. An enlarged sprocket 57 is carried by the upper end of the cylinder 52, and a chain 58 is trained around the sprocket 57 and also around a sprocket 59 mounted on the shaft 6%) of an irreversible speed reducer 61. The speed reducer 61 has a pulley 62 around which is trained a belt 63 leading to a pulley 64 of a variable speed motor unit 65. The speed reducer 61 and motor 65 are mounted on the top plate 36 of the upper housing, and the shaft projects downwardly through an opening in that plate 16 so that the cylinder 52, the sprockets 57 and 59, and chain 58 are encased within the housing 16, 17. The upper end of the shaft 4? projects through an opening in the housing 16 and through a bearing block or plate 66, and a nut 67 is threaded thereon, thereby providing means for applying thrust to the bearings 56 and 54 to position the cylinder 52 and related parts against end play.

A circumferentially arranged series of equispaced and equi-angularly related bearings 7 h are carried by the upper plate or disk 56 at its outer margin, and a similar numher of bearings 71, also equi-angularly arranged in a circumferential series, is disposed adjacent the margin of the plate 55. The bearings 71 are spaced from the shaft 49 a distance. greater than the spacing of the bearings 70 from said shafts, and the bores of adjacent bearings '70 and 71 are axiallyaligned and extend at similar angles to the plates 55 and 56. Each of the sets of aligned bearings 70 and 71 journals one shaft of the group of shafts 72a, 72b which depends from the housing 16, 17 and into the housing 14. Each of the shafts 72a and 72b mounts a chuck or other holder 73 for mounting or supporting a work piece 74. The arrangement is such, because of the inclination of the shaft 49, that the work pieces at the lowermost positions, as illustrated at the left in Fig. 2, extend into the annular container defined by the walls 30, 34, 35, Whereas the work pieces 74 located at the greatest elevation will be positioned out of the annular container 30, 34, 35 but preferably within the overall outline of the chamber 14 and adjacent the open upper end thereof as illustrated at the right in Fig. 2.

A circular track or band '75 is arranged concentrically of the shaft 49 and is supported within the upper housing by suitable brackets 76 secured to the upper housing walls 17. This track 75 is preferably of frusto conical outline as shown, with its small diameter end lowermost. Alternate shafts 72a fixedly mount friction wheels 78 which preferably include rubber tires or the like and which extend into frictional engagement with the band 75. This causes the alternate shafts 72a to be rotated and in the same direction. The intervening shafts 72b are driven from the shafts 72a by means of bevel gears 77, which gears 77 are mounted on each of the shafts 72a and 72b and have meshing engagement so as to effect a timed correlated driving of the shafts 72a and 7212.

One or more conduits 80 extend substantially vertically, being carried by the retainer wall 32 and having a connector end portion 81. The conduit extends through the wall 29 and terminates in a substantially horizontal portion 82 which extends outwardly and passes through an opening in the container wall portion 30 to provide a discharge or nozzle end portion 83 within the annular chamber formed by walls 30, 34, 35. A plurality of J-shaped conduits 85 are supported by fittings 86 mounted in openings in the bottom wall 29 and by fittings 87 mounted in the bottom container wall 34. The opposite ends of the tube 85 are open so that the compartments of the container on opposite sides of the annular partition member 30 are in communication.

In the operation of the device the operator stands at a position alongside the device, at the right-hand side as viewed in Fig. 2, so that he may reach between the housing portions 14 and 17 for access to the adjacent work piece 74 and collet or work holder 73 to manipulate the latter for the purpose of removing a work piece which has reached that position after passage through the device, and for the insertion of a new work piece in the device. The shafts 72a and 721; are successively brought into position to be accessible to the operator at this position by reason of the rotation of the carrier and the parts carried thereby. This rotation is effected through the drive motor 65, the drive belt 63, the speed reducer 61, the shaft 60, the sprocket 59, the chain 58, and the sprocket 57 mounted on the cylinder 52. As the cylindei- 52 is rotated, it carries with it and produces rotation of the disks 55 and 56, and the rotation of these disks bodily moves the shafts 72a and 72b in a circular path about the shaft 49 as a center. The track 75 is held stationary with the housing 17 by the brackets 76, and, therefore, since the friction rollers 78 fixed on the shafts 72a are moved in a circular path, and since they engage the track 75, they are caused to rotate. Rotation of the shafts 72a is transmitted through the gears 77 to the intervening shafts 72b to cause the latter to be moved in time with but in a direction opposite the shafts 72a.

The operation of the motor 22 causes operation of the belt 23 to drive the speed reducer 21 and the shaft 25. The rotation of this shaft 25, because of its splined connection with the hub 26 of the liquid container within the housing 14, rotates that liquid container. The speed of rotation of the shaft 25 will preferably be different from the speed of rotation of the carrier on the shaft 49. In the preferred form, the carrier will rotate much slower than the liquid container in the housing 14. The annular tank 30, 34, 35 will contain abrasive material and liquid, or other fluid material, and this fluid will serve to immerse the work pieces 74 at all except the highest position thereof, as illustrated at the right in Fig. 2. Relative movement occurs between each work piece 74 and the abrasive in which it is immersed as a result of the difierence in speed of rotation of the abrasive-containing chamher and of the carrier of the work pieces. A further relative movement between the work piece and the abrasive results from the rotation of each of the shafts 72a and 7212 about its axis.

By virtue of the relation of the parts with the axis of the carrier of the work holders eccentric of and inclined at an angle relative to the axis of the abrasive container, the position of each work piece in the annular abrasive container changes progressively as the carrier for the work holders rotates. The orbit of movement of the work pieces is eccentric of the annular abrasive chamber, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. That orbit is also inclined relative to the abrasive container. These two features, combined with the fact that the work holders are mounted on shafts inclined relative to the axis of their carrier, progressively vary the orientation of the various surfaces of the work pieces to the abrasive. Another result of this arrangement and orientation of the parts is that successive work pieces are impinged by different parts of the rotating body of abrasive material so that there is no danger of channeling or grooving of the abrasive body.

The angle of inclination of the shafts 72a and 72b is such thatat one position, as illustrated at the extreme left in Fig. 2, a shaft will be vertical. At all other positionsthe shafts 72a and 72b will be inclined relative to the vertical with the point of maximum angularity relative to the vertical being at the extreme right, as seen in Fig.2.

The rotation of the annular abrasive containing tank occurs at a comparatively low rate of speed. Thus in one machine of this character, a rate of rotation of 38 R. P. M. was employed, While the rate of rotation of the cylinder 52 and its associated parts was less than one R. P. M. The slow rate of speed of the abrasive tank avoids any centrifugal action on the abrasive. The difference in speed of rotation and the immersion of the work pieces in the abrasive introduces a frictional resistance to the movement of the abrasive and an efficient abrading action. The rotation of the abrasive body tends to produce a fluid drive or coupling between work pieces and the abrasive. This coupling action is resisted successfully by the use of the irreversible speed reducer 61 to prevent overrunning of the work carrier so that a differential of speed is maintained constantly. The differential will depend upon the setting of the various devices and, particularly, the character or range of the speed reducers 21 and 61 and the speed selected for operation of the variable speed motor 65 for driving the work carrier.

In the use of the device, the abrasive liquid will be contained in the outer annular portion of the container defined by the Walls 30, 34 and 35. This abrasive material Will preferably include an abrasive in a liquid medium, or a fluid mixture of abrasive and soap, or soap and liquid, or any other fiuid material suitable for the intended purpose. In many instances it is desirable to flush this abrasive material for the purpose of removing dirt therefrom, and the present device is constructed for this purpose. The inner portion of the container, that is, the portion defined by the'walls 30, 32 and 33, is

adapted to constitute a liquid container or water container. It will be observed that the bottom 29 of this container is at a higher level than the bottom 34 of the annular abrasive container. Likewise, it will be observed that a horizontal disk 31 projects into this container. The plane or disk 31 serves as a means to retard or prevent splashing of water therein. Water may be supplied to the container by any suitable means (not shown). At a plurality of points the tubes 35 connect the water container with the annular abrasive container, so that water may flow from the central part to the annular part. One or more apertures 35' are formed in the annular container at a level intermediate the height thereof. Each of the openings 35' is spanned by a screen or other member 135 which will permit water to flow therefrom but which will retain abrasive material. The function of this arrangement of parts is to permit Water from the central container to progressively enter the annular abrasive container and filter through the abrasive to the outlet 35', carrying with it dirt and other foreign matter. The liquid which is discharged at 35 falls into the trough 39 and flows down that inclined trough to the outlet 39' for discharge at a suitable point.

In order to facilitate the cleaning of the annular container and the removal of abrasive contents therefrom, a line connected with a source of liquid under pressure can be connected at the fitting 81 of the conduit 80. The supply of water to the conduit 80 and its discharge at the outlet 2 53 upon removal of the plug 41 provides a supply of water to the annular container where needed to flush the abrasive from the annular container and to clean the annular container after the same is empty.

The number of work holders provided in the device may vary with the size of the machine, the size of the work pieces, and other conditions. Thus, while only twelve work holders have been illustrated in this drawing, it will be understood that the number of work holders may be increased or reduced, and that thirty or more may be provided. It will be understood that the speed of rotation of the carrier for the work holders must be proportioned to the number of work holders. Thus as the number of work holders upon the carrier is reduced, the speed of rotation of the carrier may be increased, and vice versa. The factors which control this timing relation are essentially the time required to manipulate the chucks '73 at the loading station for the purpose of removing a finished work piece and installing a fresh work piece. The time factor should be sufilciently slow to permit each work piece upon the conveyor to be replaced as it reaches the loading station. A further time factor controlling the speed of rotation of the device is the time required for the performance of the polishing or finishing operation.

Attention is directed to Fig. 3 of the drawing which illustrates the relation of the work holders in one rotative position of the carrier. It will be observed that the work holders are arranged in a series eccentric relative to the annular abrasive-containing chamber. It also will be observed that the pattern of the arrangement of the work holders is not truly circular. This results from the fact that the inclination of the carrier causes the work holders and the work pieces to be immersed at different depths and from the fact that the work holders 72a and 72b are disposed at an angle to the axis of rotation of their carrier with their lower ends spaced at a greater distance from that axis than their upper ends. Consequently, the less the depth of immersion of a Work piece in the fluid material the greater will be the spacing of the work holder from the axis of the container at any given horizontal plane, as in the plane of Fig. 3, or at the level of the liquid. The factors of inclination of the carrier, inclination of the work holders relative to the axis of the carrier, and the eccentricity of the carrier relative to the container, result in continuous change of the depth of immersion of the work pieces and continuous change of the position of the work piece radially of the container as the carrier rotates.

Another characteristic of the device which is illustrated in Fig. 3 is the manner in which the work pieces 74 may be oriented with respect to each other, and changed incident to rotation of the work holders. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the work pieces 74 have a transverse part, and the transverse parts of adjacent work pieces are disposed at an angle to each other. This, of course, is strictly illustrative and emphasizes a factor which contributes to the success and practicability of this device.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A surface finishing device comprising a rotatable container for abrasive fluid, a carrier rotatable above said container about an axis inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the container, a plurality of work holders inclined relative to the carrier axis and depending from said carrier into said container, and means for driving said carrier and container at different speeds.

2. A surface finishing device comprising a rotatable container for abrasive fluid, a carrier rotatable above said container about an axis inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the container, a plurality of work holders inclined relative to the carrier axis and depending from said carrier into said container, means for driving said carrier and container at different speeds, and means for rotating said work holders.

3. A surface finishing device comprising a rotatable container for abrasive fluid, a carrier rotatable above said container about an axis inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the container, a plurality of work holders inclined relative to the carrier axis and depending from said carrier into said container, and means for driving said carrier and container at different speeds, said container being annular and said carrier being arranged eccentrically of said container with said work holders arranged in a circular series on said carrier whereby work pieces carried by said work holders travel in said container at constantly changing depths and in an orbit eccentric of said container.

4. A surface finishing device comprising a rotatable container for abrasive fluid, a carrier rotatable above said container about an axis inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the container, a plurality of work holders depending from said carrier, and means for driving said carrier and container at different speeds, said work holders being arranged in a circular series and disposed at an angle to the axis of rotation of said carrier.

5. A surface finishing device comprising a rotatable container for abrasive fluid, a carrier rotatable above said container about an axis inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the container, a plurality of work holders depending from said carrier, and means for driving said carrier and container at different speeds, said work holders being disposed at an angel to the axis of the carrier substantially equal to the angle of inclination of the carrier.

6. A surface finishing device comprising a rotatable container for abrasive fluid, a carrier rotatable above said container about an axis inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the container, a plurality of work holders depending from said carrier, and means for driving said carrier and container at different speeds, said carrier rotating at less speed than said container, said carrier drive means including an irreversible speed reducer to resist drive-coupling-reaction between said abrasive fluid and the members mounted on said carrier.

7. A surface finishing device comprising a rotatable container for abrasive fluid, a carrier rotatable above said container about an axis inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the container, a plurality of work holders depending from said carrier, and means for driving said carrier and container at different speeds, said container including a central portion and an annular abrasive containing portion, said work holders positioning work in said annular portion, and conduits connecting said container portions at spaced points, said annular container having an outlet intermediate its height, and an abrasiveretaining screen spanning said outlet.

8. A surface finishing device comprising a rotatable container for abrasive fluid, a carrier rotatable above said container about an axis inclined relation to the axis of rotation of the container, a plurality of Work holders inclined relative to the carrier axis and depending from said carrier, and means for driving said carrier and container at different speeds, a stationary housing fitting around said container, and a drain trough carried by said housing below the periphery of said container, said container having a liquid outlet in its outer wall.

9. A surface finishing device comprising a rotatable container for abrasive fluid, a carrier rotatable above said container about an axis inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the container, a plurality of work holders depending from said carrier, and means for driving'said carrier and container at different speeds, said carrier including a fixed shaft, a cylindrical member journaled on said shaft, a pair of axially spaced rigid members projecting laterally from said cylinder, and drive-transmission means carried by said cylinder, each work holder being carried by two laterally projecting members.

10. A surface finishing device as defined in claim 9,

wherein each laterally projecting member mounts a plurality of bearings, each bearing on one member being axially aligned with a bearing on the other member, said work holders being journaled in aligned bearings.

11. A surface finishing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said work holders are arranged in a circular series and are journaled on said carrier, selected work holders mounting a friction wheel, and a stationary ring concentric with said carrier and frictionally engaged by said wheels. I

12. A surface finishing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said work holders are journaled in said carrier, means for rotating selected work holders, and drive connections between said selected work holders and adjacent work holders.

13. A surface finishing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said work holders are journaled in said carrier, and are arranged in a circular series, friction drive means for rotating alternate work holders including an annular stationary member concentric with said carrier and circular members fixed on selected work holders and bearing against said annular member, and drive connections between said selected work holders and adjacent work holders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,866 Coppage Dec. 12, 1916 1,714,750 Aeschbach May 28, 1929 1,836,066 Edison Dec. 15, 1931 2,218,353 Gruenberg Oct. 15, 1940 2,589,782 Creek Mar. 18, 1952 

